Boleros Romantic Songs
of the Americas
International Latin Music Conference and Festival at the Smithsonian
Smithsonian InstitutionWashington, DC Nov 7–9, 2002
Nat “King” Cole and Olga Guillot – Havana, Cuba circa 1955
Boleros
Romantic Songs of the Americas
The Perennial Bolero
Latin America has produced many genres and modes of musical expression. None
has had the impact and staying power of boleros, the romantic songs with which
Latins express the ways of love, the sorrow of parting, and the poetry, joys, and
frustrations of relationships.
The bolero was born in Cuba in the 19th century, an amalgam of European,
African, and New World components. It has traveled far and wide: to the rest of
the Hispanic Caribbean, especially the sister island of Puerto Rico, and indeed to
the remotest corners of the world.
The seductive sounds of the bolero entered Mexico through Veracruz and Mérida,
the gateways to the island Caribbean. Once in Mexico, however, the bolero
became as Mexican as tequila, sarapes, and the brassy sound of mariachis. In the
hands of composers like Agustín Lara it reached new heights of diffusion and pol-
ish.
Boleros entered the magic realms of radio and film, and traveled across the border
to the United States. They gained tremendous popularity in English versions and
influenced American interpreters and composers. Nat “King” Cole fell in love with
boleros and became a memorable bolerista in English and Spanish. The bolero
took Latin America by storm, becoming an endemic genre from Argentina to New
York.
Boleros are perennials. Like Mexico’s Armando Manzanero once said, “as long as
there are lovers there will be boleros.” Amen, Maestro, may it always be so. With
this international conference and festival the Smithsonian Institution celebrates the
bolero for what it has been, remains, and will doubtless become.
Miguel A. Bretos
Senior Scholar
National Portrait Gallery
Los Tri-O
Boleros
Romantic Songs
of the Americas
Thursday, November 7, 2002
The Bolero: Roots and Branches
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Orientation
9:15 a.m. “They say it’s a lie that I love you:” The Art of Bolero Introductions
Frank Figueroa, independent scholar
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. The Many Sounds of the Bolero
Daniel Sheehy, Smithsonian Folkways
Mark Holston, music columnist, Americas and Hispanic magazines
Francisco Ojeda, The Voice of America
Live music provided by: Mariachi Los Amigos (mariachi/ranchera)
Latin Rhythms (salsa, bachata, and ballad)
Throughout the Americas, the bolero has thrived as a part of each country’s musical
heritage. This interactive panel will sample different variants of the bolero.
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Break
1:00 p.m. Romance e identidad: el bolero en las Américas
(Session in Spanish with English Interpretation)
Miguel A. Bretos, National Portrait Gallery
Fernando Valerio-Holguín, Colorado State University
Jaime Rico Salazar, author
The bolero and its dispersion from its beginnings in Cuba until today.
2:45 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. The “Filin”: Cuban Bohemia Goes Jazzy
Ariana Hernández-Reguant, Tulane University
Irma Carlón, vocalist
Mari Paz, pianist
An exploration of the impact of jazz in the development of Filin.
8:00 p.m. Music at the Palenque Cultural Space with María Isolina Espinal
Hosted by the Latin American Folk Institute (LAFI)
3800-A 34th Street
Mt. Rainier, Maryland 20712
For more information please call 301-887-9331
5
International Latin Music Conference and Festival at the Smithsonian
Ruth Fernández (Puerto Rico)
Boleros
Romantic Songs
of the Americas
Friday, November 8, 2002
Interpreters, Composers and Their Legacy
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Agustín Lara: Mexico’s “Músico-Poeta”
(Session in Spanish with English Interpretation)
Gabriel Abaroa, author
Mr. Abaroa’s multi-media presentation will highlight the colorful and exciting life of
El Flaco de Oro, Mexico’s bolero genius.
10:00 a.m. Break
10:15 a.m. Los Tríos: Popularizing the Bolero
Gabe Romero, music scholar and producer
Rafael Basurto Lara, Trío Los Panchos
Pablo Marcial “Tito” Ortiz, author and music critic
Panelists will look at trios and their impact on bolero performance. This session hon-
ors Rafael Basurto Lara, the last living voice of the legendary Trío Los Panchos.
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Break
1:00 p.m. Puerto Rico: A Grand Bolero Legacy
Pedro Malavet Vega, author
Pablo Marcial “Tito” Ortiz, author
Agustine Vélez-Jiménez, author
This session explores the rich legacy of Puerto Rican Bolero composers including
among others Rafael Hernández, Pedro Flores, and Bobby Capó.
2:30 p.m. The bolero, an Open Discussion
A participatory forum of bolero.
3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. El alma de Puerto Rico hecha canción: a Conversation with Ruth Fernández
Marvette Pérez, National Museum of American History/Behring Center
Ruth Fernández, vocalist
8:00 p.m. Ruth Fernández and Chucho Avellanet in Concert
Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural T
D OU History
10 and Constitution Avenue
th SOL
7
International Latin Music Conference and Festival at the Smithsonian
Guillot
s and Olga
Pancho
Trio Los
Rafael
Basurto
Lara
Boleros Romantic Songs
of the Americas
Saturday, November 9, 2002
Contemporary Perspectives
8:30 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Romancing the Silver Screen: Boleros in Films
Ignacio Durán, Mexican Cultural Institute
An exploration of the bolero’s presence in film, especially during the Golden Age of
the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s.
9:45 a.m. Break
10:00 a.m. The Bolero in Latino Popular Culture
Vanessa Knights, University of Newcastle, UK
Marvette Pérez, National Museum of American History/Behring Center
Cultural anthropologists consider the impact of the bolero in the life of Latino and
Latin American communities.
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Break
1:00 p.m. Los Nuevos Románticos: The Bolero and the New Latino Generation
Mauricio Abaroa, Crescent Moon Records
Los Tri-O
Latino youth are discovering the soul-stirring sounds of the bolero, which once again
has become a major commercial product influencing radio and television.
2:45 p.m. Olga de Cuba/Olga de América: a Conversation with Olga Guillot
José Emilio Castellanos, independent scholar
Olga Guillot, vocalist
7:30 p.m. Boleros ayer, hoy y siempre
Baird Auditorium, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
10th and Constitution Avenue – Free to the public
A star-studded salute to the Bolero, featuring:
Esperanza Márquez, Venezuela
Jesús “Chuchito” Sanoja, Venezuela
Irma Carlón, México
Rafael Basurto Lara, México
Los Tri-O, Colombia
and the incomparable Olga Guillot
9
International Latin Music Conference and Festival at the Smithsonian
performers
Chucho Avellanet is one of Puerto Olga Guillot is Cuba’s gift to Latin music.
Rico’s great stars. He became an idol of the She was born in Santiago de Cuba, like the
“New Wave” during the early 60’s. Later on dur- bolero itself, but moved to Havana at an early
ing that decade he cut more than 15 recordings age. She began singing in a duet with her sister,
for UA. He was the first Latin to perform in the Ana Luisa. In 1938 she won a prize at the popu-
Miss Universe pageant (1972). A major TV fig- lar radio show, the “Supreme Court of Art,” and
ure, he appeared in films and produced records was launched on a distinguished career as a
while maintaining his singing career. A historic soloist. In 1951 she was acclaimed as “the
1994 concert, “Chucho, Lucecita, and Lisette”, Queen of Cuba's Radio.” Her career has been a
released under the WEA Latina label, recently spectacular series of successes. Her personal
catapulted his music to new heights of popular- trademark, according to one of her biographers
ity. is “the extraordinary drama and sincerity of her
passionate interpretations.”
Rafael Basurto Lara was born in Tlapa,
Guerrero, Mexico. He is a commanding pres- Esperanza Márquez was born in
ence, both in his own right and as a former Caracas, Venezuela. A versatile performer, she
member of one of the most remarkable and has worked in most Latin genres, from the tango
beloved institutions in the history of Latin music, to the bolero. She has shared the limelight with
the Trío Los Panchos. Mr. Basurto joined Los Venezuelan and foreign stars like Pablo
Panchos in 1977 after being a member of sever- Milanés, Silvio Rodríguez, Amaury Pérez and
al other tríos, such as Los Cordova, Los Tres Simón Díaz. She has six records and the sound
Latinos and Los Delfines, always singing the track of three feature films to her credit.
first voice. Later on he attained much success
as a soloist. He lives in Miami, Florida.
Irma Carlón was born in Puebla, México. Jesús “Chuchito” Sanoja was born in
She is renowned for the interpretation of roman- Caracas. His parents were Chucho Sanoja and
tic ballads. Ms. Carlón debuted in 1957 with Alisa Soteldo, two well-known performers. He
Maestro Vicente Garrido. Not long after she studied in Germany, Switzerland, and the United
began broadcasting live and touring Central and States, and has written music for the movies,
South America, Poland, Belgium, Greece and theatre, radio, and television. He has received
France. Ms. Carlón has represented México in more than forty major prizes and awards.
numerous festivals throughout the world.
Los Tri-O a group of remarkable
Ruth Fernández is the grand lady of energy and charisma, have established
Puerto Rican music, truly “the Soul of Puerto themselves as pioneers of the spectac-
Rico Made a Song.” She was born in Ponce and ular revival of the Latin romantic song.
showed remarkable talent at a very early age. The Tri-O’s effervescent members–
She is used to being a pioneer. She was the first Esteban, Manuel and Andres– have
woman to sing popular music at New York’s won two Billboard Awards with the
Metropolitan Opera House. She is the top inter- albums Nuestro amor and Mi gloria
preter of Puerto Rico's own bombas and plenas eres tu. They have sold over three mil-
and one of the most remarkable boleristas in the lion albums in the Latin region, earning
history of the genre. Not content with her out- them Gold and Platinum records in
standing musical career, she has served her many counties, including the U.S. They
native country as a Senator and a remarkably are truly at that cutting edge where tra-
effective advocate in the public policy arena. dition, innovation and raw talent meet.
Boleros
Romantic Songs
of the Americas
panelists
Gabriel Abaroa, a native of Puebla, Mark Holston, a “confirmed salsaholic,”
Mexico, has been a practicing architect since is a journalist and photographer who specializes
1955. He shares a passion for music with his in cultural, political, media, travel, and econom-
wife, Cristina. The Abaroas raised their six chil- ic issues relevant to Latin America. He leads his
dren as a family of musicians that eventually own fourteen-piece Latin jazz and salsa band.
became, a performing band. For the past 25 As a journalist and critic he is a frequent con-
years, Mr. Abaroa has studied and researched tributor to major journals and reviews. “I believe
the Latin romantic song tradition, especially the strongly in the interrelationship between music
life of Agustín Lara. He is the author of Lara’s and the cultural environment from which it
biography, El Flaco de Oro. comes,” he says.
José Emilio Castellanos has led a Vanessa Knights joined the staff of the
distinguished career in his native Venezuela University of Newcastle upon completion of her
and in the United States. He has served in Ph.D. from Cambridge. She has written and pub-
numerous senior diplomatic and political lished extensively in the fields of Spanish litera-
appointments. He served as press attache of ture, feminism, gender studies, fantasy, and sci-
the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC, ence fiction. She is researching constructions
and as press director for the Presidency of of identity in the bolero in Cuba, Mexico, and
Venezuela. A former editor of Tiempos del Puerto Rico. She has taught and lectured in
Mundo in Washington, he has a life long inter- Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Finland. Dr.
est in Latin Music and has conducted exten- Knights is an active and influential advocate of
sive research in the field. Hispanic Studies in the UK.
Frank Figueroa began his career in radio Pedro Malavet Vega combines two
in 1947 as a disc jockey in New York. He led a 12- careers as a lawyer-professor, and as a scholar
piece Latin band that played in some of New of popular music. He has published in both
York’s most famous ballrooms, including the fields. He holds degrees from the Pontifical
Palladium. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University of Puerto Rico and has also studied at
University and had a distinguished teaching Harvard. Professor Malavet believes that his
career at Illinois State University and Eckerd greatest achievement is having earned the
College. Upon retirement, he has returned to his respect and affection of his students, col-
first love: music. leagues, neighbors, and friends.
Ariana Hernández-Reguant holds Pablo Marcial “Tito” Ortiz is a
a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from the renowned collector and scholar in the field of
University of Chicago. She is currently a visiting latin popular music. He is the author of a funda-
faculty member at Tulane University’s Center for mental work, A tres voces y guitarra: Los tríos
Latin American Studies in New Orleans, en Puerto Rico (1991), which has run into three
Louisiana. She is a former Smithsonian post- editions. He holds a degree from the
doctoral fellow. Dr. Hernández-Reguant has Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and the
spent several years in Havana, Cuba, working University of Puerto Rico. Mr. Ortiz is research-
on the globalization of Cuban culture. ing a definitive study of el Trío Los Panchos.
Fernando Valerio-Holguín was Francisco Ojeda is convinced that
born in La Vega, Dominican Republic. He studied Cuba´s most original and transcendental cre-
at the University of Santo Domingo and has a ation is its music. For that reason this Miami-
Ph.D. from Tulane. Dr. Valerio-Holguín has based writer and music researcher has devoted
taught at the University of Santo Domingo and the last few years to reviewing the history and
Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. He is cur- development of Cuban popular music, and
rently a member of the faculty of Colorado State researching more than a century of national
University and has published extensively, discography. Mr. Ojeda studied music and
including fiction, literary criticism, and cultural finance at George Mason University, and classi-
studies. cal guitar with the widely acclaimed DC concert
artist and lecturer Larry Snitzler. Since 1985 he
has been on the staff of Radio Martí, the US
information service to Cuba.
11
International Latin Music Conference and Festival at the Smithsonian
panelists planning committee
Marvette Pérez is a curator of Latino Mauricio Abaroa grew up in a musical
History at the National Museum of American family. An architect by training, he has made key
History/Behring Center. An anthropologist by contributions to the promotion and diffusion of
training, she has brought key collections to the Latin popular music. He has managed superstar
Smithsonian, including the notable Vidal Luis Miguel and many other first-line perform-
Collection of Puerto Rican folk materials. A tire- ers. He served as Executive Director of LARAS
less advocate for Latino issues, she has curated (Latin Academy of Recording Arts and
or co-curated such exhibits as: A Collector’s Sciences), which he helped establish in 1997. In
Vision of Puerto Rico; 1848: New Border, New 2001 he became President of Crescent Moon
Nation; Ritmos de Identidad; and Latin Jazz: la Records.
combinacion perfecta.
Diana J. Almodovar is Assistant Vice
Jaime Rico Salazar was born in President for Latin Music at BMI. Ms.
Colombia, where he received his education. He Almodovar is responsible for developing and
resided for 25 years in Costa Rica, where he led maintaining the performing rights organization’s
a distinguished career researching and writing relationships with Latin songwriters, com-
about Latin American popular music. His compi- posers, and publishers across the country. She
lations of folk and popular music of Colombia, oversees BMI’s annual Latin Music Awards
Costa Rica, and Panama have been published in Dinner. She opened the BMI Miami office in
book and CD formats. His Cien Años de Boleros 1997 and has recently expanded the department
is now in its fifth edition. He is completing a with the addition of staff members in New York
study of Colombia’s popular songs. and Puerto Rico.
Agustine Velez-Jímenez was born in Jorge Plasencia is the Vice President of
Arecibo, Puerto Rico. He has been a collector Corporate Communications and Marketing for
and independent scholar of Latin music for over Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation. Previously
50 years. He has published his research in mag- he served as Vice President of Marketing for
azines and newspapers in Puerto Rico, and has Estefan Enterprises and Director of Hispanic
presented his work at numerous conferences Marketing for the Florida Marlins. A graduate of
on the island and abroad. He has been a con- Barry University, he has been widely praised for
sultant for radio and television. his philanthropic work with children.
Gabe Romero has over 20 years’ experi-
ence in New York’s media and music industries.
He has written extensively. He is a voting mem-
ber of NARAS, the National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences, and a standing
member of LARAS, the Latin Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences. Romero spear-
headed the RCA/MBG Tropical Series. In 1998
he became Director of the Latin Division at
Sirius Satellite Radio. He is working on a book
about the development of Latin music.
Miguel A. Bretos is a Senior Scholar at
the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian
Institution. Between 1994 and 1998 he served as
Counselor to the Secretary for Community
Affairs and Special Projects, and subsequently
as Acting Director of the National Postal
Museum. Bretos holds a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt
and has taught in the United States, Mexico, and
Australia. He has curated exhibits and published
extensively in his fields of interest.
Boleros
Romantic Songs
of the Americas
Acknowledgements
Boleros: Romantic Songs of the Americas has been organized by the Latin Music project of the National
Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives in partnership with the Mexican
Cultural Institute, the Resident Commissioner of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rican
Federal Affairs Administration, and the Latin American Folk Institute (LAFI). Major funding for the
conference has been provided by the Latino Initiatives Fund at the Smithsonian. Media sponsorship has
been provided by Univision. Air travel has been facilitated by Continental Airlines.
We wish to acknowledge the following:
Luz María Aguirrebeña L’Auriol Plaza Kristy Sohl
Mari Carmen Aponte Patrick Madden Juan Manuel Saldivar
Eloise Baden Adolfo & Rocío Méndez Carol Schliesinger
Sheila P. Burke Mily Méndez Rachel Sears
Carolyn Carr Raquel B. Méndez Maria Eugenia Soto
Miriam Cruz Rosario Moreno Linda St. Thomas
Maggie Cummings Jorge Musa Mitch Torton
Francisco Dallmeier Dianne Neidner Olga María Touzet
Ministro Ignacio Durán Nell Payne Marietta Ulacia
GALA Hispanic Theatre Marvette Pérez Milly Uriarte
Carlos Gimenez Judith Petroski Raquel Vallejo
Rudy Guernica Raul Sánchez Viva Miami Entertainment
James Hobbins Eddie Rodríguez
Advisory & Planning Committee
Mauricio Abaroa Gabe Romero
Crescent Moon Records Independent Scholar
Diane Almodovar Juan Manuel Saldivar
BMI Mexican Cultural Institute
Miguel A. Bretos Daniel Sheehy
National Portrait Gallery Smithsonian Folkways
Jorge A. Plasencia
Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation
Conference Staff
Miguel A. Bretos, Conference Coordinator Maribel Kalata
Senior Scholar, National Portrait Gallery Assistant & Researcher
Judith Campos Scott, Planning Manager Bob Israel
Program Manager, Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives Production Manager
Graphic Design–José Luis Díaz, Arts & Graphs
Olga Guillot & Benny More – Havana, Cuba, 1950’s